CLEMSON, S.C. – Junior Steve Reba tossed a complete game three-hit shutout to lead 12th-ranked Clemson (27-14, 9-4 ACC) to a 3-0 victory over seventh-ranked Georgia Tech (30-11, 9-7 ACC) on Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in the opener of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series.
Reba (8-1) went the distance for the first time in his career and limited the nation’s top-hitting offense to a season low three hits, all singles. The right-hander issued one walk while striking out seven, and he did not allow a Tech player to reach third base.
Tech starter Steve Kelly (6-2) took the loss despite a solid effort. In seven innings of work, Kelly allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out six batters.
Clemson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Khalil Greene led off the frame with a double down the left field line, took third on Jarrod Schmidt’s groundout and scored on Ryan Riley’s RBI groundout. In the third inning, the Tigers expanded the lead to 2-0 on Michael Johnson’s two-out RBI single that scored Casey Stone from second base.
Clemson stretched the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. After Kelly retired the first two batters of the inning by strikeouts before Riley drew a walk on a 10-pitch at bat. Riley took third on Steve Pyzik’s single before scoring on Stone’s RBI single.
Stone led the Clemson offense with three hits in four at bats. Greene and Pyzik each added two hits in the game.
Georgia Tech and Clemson will continue the three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The games will be broadcast on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com.
